Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 14 Tiv farmers in Benue

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed 14 Tiv farmers and destroyed property worth millions of naira in an early morning attack in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The villages the herdsmen allegedly attacked include Mbasende, Uhembe and Tsegbe, in Mbayer-Yandev ward of the local government.

A victim, who fled to Makurdi, the state capital, Orseen Abagi, told The Nation that the herdsmen were armed with sophisticated weapons.

He said they stormed the villages at 3am on Tuesday.

Abagi added: “We were asleep. Suddenly, we heard sounds of heavy guns. They were accompanied by the torching of our homes. As the people ran out of their homes, the attackers, who had positioned themselves everywhere, shot and killed those who attempted to escape.”

The villager said many of the attackers spoke Hausa while others wore military uniform.

He said they abducted some women and children who have not been seen since the attack.

A member of Benue State House of Assembly, representing Guma State Constituency, Dave Iorhemba, condemned the killings.

Police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, a Divisional Superintendent of Police (DSP), told The Nation that he had not received the report of the incident.